Almanac North
The Iron Mining Association's new Executive Director
7/30/2022 | 24m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
We speak with the Iron Mining Association's newest Executive Director, Kristen Vake
We speak with the Iron Mining Association's newest Executive Director, Kristen Vake, about her new position. High levels of bacteria can put a stop to your beach day, we speak with the Minnesota Dept. of Health about detection. The North House Folk School celebrates its 25th year. Heidi holtan is our guest this week on Voices of the Region.
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Almanac North is a local public television program presented by PBS North
Almanac North
The Iron Mining Association's new Executive Director
7/30/2022 | 24m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
We speak with the Iron Mining Association's newest Executive Director, Kristen Vake, about her new position. High levels of bacteria can put a stop to your beach day, we speak with the Minnesota Dept. of Health about detection. The North House Folk School celebrates its 25th year. Heidi holtan is our guest this week on Voices of the Region.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION IS A FAMILIAR FACE HERE IN THE -- WE WILL CHAT WITH THE FORMER NEWS ANCHOR ABOUT HER NEW ROLE ON IT.
>> THE RULE WILL CELEBRATE HIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE'LL HAVE A REPORT ABOUT THE SCHOOL'S IMPACT.
>> MINNESOTA SUMMERS OFTEN MEAN DAYS AT THE BEACH, BUT SOMETIMES HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS MAKE SWIMMING DANGEROUS.
THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICIAL SHARES TIPS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR LOVED WEDNESDAY.
>> THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.
♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN THE WEEKEND.
>> WE HAVE HAD SOME UNBELIEVABLE WEATHER ON THE MONTH OF JULY.
I HOPE THIS MOVES INTO AUGUST.
>> I HOPE IT GETS WARMER BECAUSE I WAS THINKING IS MORE THAN SEPTEMBER THAN THE END OF JULY.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.
>> WISCONSIN SENATE MINORITY LEADER JANET BEWLEY WAS INVOLVED IN THEIR TRAGIC THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT LAST FRIDAY IN ASHLAND.
THE CRASH KILLED TWO PEOPLE, A YOUNG MOTHER AND CHILD FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MONDAY SENATOR BEWLEY'S OFFICE RELEASED THIS STATEMENT, "THIS IS A HEARTBREAKING EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE FOCUSED ON THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED., THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES.
."
THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
>> ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD VOTED TO END THE CORRECTIONAL CARE AND HIRED THEM TO PROVIDE STATE-MANDATED MEDICAL CARE TO INMATES IN THE FACILITY INSTEAD.
IT HAS BEEN EMBROILED IN CONTROVERSY SINCE 2018 WHEN A COUNTY INMATE DIED WHILE UNDER ITS CARE.
THE $1.7 MILLION CONTRACT WILL COST THE COUNTY MORE, BUT WILL EXPAND MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR INMATES FROM FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
>> THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER AND ELY HAS INTRODUCED TWO NEW MEMBERS TO ITS WOLFPACK.
BLACKSTONE AND KAZ RECENTLY JOINED THE CENTER AS AMBASSADOR WILLS.
BOTH PUPS ARE A NORTHWESTERN SPECIES OF GRAY WOLF.
>> NINE ENTREPRENEURS WILL GET A CHANCE TO TEST OUT THEIR BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH, OPERATING FROM A STOREFRONT.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS PART OF THE GREATER DOWNTOWN COUNCILS POP UP LAB ON PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DILUTE 1200 FUND.
IT ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO EXPERIENCE OPERATING IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH RISK-FREE WITH FREE SPACE AND GRANTS TO -- COTS -- COSTS RELATED TO INVENTORY.
THE COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS GIVES PREFERENCE TO BUSINESSES OWNED BY WOMEN, VETERAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BLACK , INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITY.
IT'S AT 313 AT 317 WEST SUPERIOR STREET.
LOOK FOR BUSINESS STORES TO OPEN BY AUGUST 2.
>> THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION HAS WELCOMED A NEW PHASE TO ITS RANKS, BUT SHE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR TO MANY OF YOU.
KRISTIN, A FORMER CBS FREE MORNING NEWS ANCHOR AND NATIVE PUTS HER HOMEGROWN KNOWLEDGE TO USE AS SHE STEPS INTO HER NEW ROLE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION.
HERE TO TALK ABOUT HER NEW POSITION IS KRISTEN.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, EXCITED TO BE HERE.
THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION, WE ARE ACTUALLY CELEBRATING 30 YEARS THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S -- IT'S AN ASSOCIATION THAT ADVOCATES AND SUPPORTS THE IRON MINING INDUSTRY.
SO IT INCLUDES PRODUCERS THAT WOULD BE IN THE MINING COMPANIES ON THE RANGE, AND SUPPLIERS AND VENDORS, WHICH, THERE ARE MANY, MANY OF THOSE THINGS TO THE MINING INDUSTRY.
AND SO, OUR GOAL IS TO JUST SUPPORT THAT INDUSTRY AND KEEP IT GOING STRONG.
>> YOU SPENT THE PAST SIX YEARS OR SO WORKING TO CHANNEL THREE.
BUT MAKE THIS THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE A CAREER TO TEACH?
>> IT WASN'T AN EASY DECISION BECAUSE I HAVE A LOVE FOR JOURNALISM, ETHIC IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THE STORIES.
BUT I FELT THIS WAS A NEW WAY FOR ME TO GIVE BACK AND SUPPORT MY HOME AREA FROM THE IRON RANGE.
IN THIS SEEM LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TO AN INDUSTRY THAT PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR MY FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.
AND THAT'S A STORY MANY FOLKS CAN SHARE.
QUAKES I UNDERSTAND IT HAS HAD A MAJOR ROLE IN YOUR FAMILY, HOW IS THAT?
QUAKES MY DAD WORKED FOR U.S. STEEL FOR 40 YEARS AND HE IS NOW RETIRED, BUT TRULY THE HARDEST WORKING GUY I KNOW, AND THEN HIS DAD AND MY MOM'S DAD WORKS FOR A MINE.
AND IT JUST GOES BACK GENERATION.
THAT'S NOT A UNIQUE STORY.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE THAT SAME STORY.
THIS INDUSTRY IS FOR WELL OVER 100 YEARS SUPPORTED SO MANY FAMILIES, AND IT'S REALLY WHAT THE IRON RANGE WAS BUILT OFF OF.
SO, I'M EXCITED TO BE IN THIS ROLE AND BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.
>> IN ADDITION THINK TO ANCHORING AND CHANNEL THREE AND HOSTING THE MINING, HOW DID THAT PREPARE YOU FOR THIS POSITION?
WAX CONNECTION.
AS YOU KNOW CONNECTIONS ARE HUGE, BUT ALSO GETTING AN INSIDE LOOK INTO -- INTO THIS INDUSTRY.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ONLY GET TO SEE IT FROM A FAR OR HEAR ABOUT IT.
AS A REPORTER YOU GET KIND OF AN INSIDE LOOK.
SO I WAS ABLE TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT IT.
TO SEE HOW RUNS AND HOW HIGH-TECH THINGS ARE NOW AND HOW HARD PEOPLE ARE TO KEEP THE INDUSTRY GOING.
SO COVERING THE MINING INDUSTRY CERTAINLY FUELED MY PASSION FOR IT EVEN MORE SO.
>> YOU MENTION THEY WANT TO TAKE A NEW DIRECTION.
FOCUSING MAYBE ON STORIES, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON BEFORE.
HOW DO YOU INTEND TO DO THAT?
>> THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION HAS FOCUSED ON MINING.
MINING LEGISLATION AND POLICY.
WE FEEL NOW IS THE TIME WE NEED TO SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO ON THE IRON RANGE IN THE IRON MINES.
BUT WE DO, HOW WE DO AND HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IT IS.
TO THE COUNTRY, TO THE WORLD, THE STILL MAKING PROCESS STARTS ON THE IRON RANGE.
WITHOUT THAT BEING SUCCESSFUL, THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE TAKES A HIT AND IS A MENTION THOUGH SUPPLIERS AND VENDORS, THEY ARE IMPACTED AS WELL.
SO WE ARE TALKING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES, SO IT'S REALLY A VITAL INDUSTRY THAT WE NEED TO KEEP STRONG.
>> WILL THE LOBBYING ASPECT GO AWAY OR WILL HE CONTINUE?
>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT, IT JUST WON'T BE OUR SOLE FOCUS.
WE REALLY FEEL THAT WE ARE KIND OF A MISUNDERSTOOD INDUSTRY IN A WAY, AND THAT'S TO NO ONE'S FAULT, BUT WE JUST WANT TO SHARE MORE, KIND OF OPEN THE BLINDS ON HOW MINING WORKS AND HOW WE DO IT, AND WE DO IT SAFELY AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THOSE STORIES.
>> ARE THERE THINGS YOU HAVE TO STUDY UP ON NOW?
>> YES.
I AM LEARNING A LOT, BUT THANKFULLY I HAVE BOARD MEMBERS ON THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION WHO WORK FOR A LOT OF THE MINING COMPANIES AND A LOT OF THE SUPPLIER AND VENDOR COMPANIES, AND THEY ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, SO I GET TO LEARN FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST.
AND I FEEL VERY BLESSED.
>> HAVING SOMEBODY YOUNG LIKE YOURSELF IN THE POSITION, DO YOU THINK IT WILL INSPIRE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE REGION TO MAYBE STICK AROUND AND GIVE MINING ANOTHER LOOK?
>> I HOPE SO.
TRUST ME, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL I WANTED NOTHING MORE THEN TO LEAVE THE IRON RANGE.
I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF HERE BUT I ENDED UP COMING BACK NOT MANY LICK -- NOT MANY YEARS LATER.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE MINING INDUSTRY.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE IN THIS ROLE.
I TRULY DID NOT EVEN KNOW THIS TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY EXISTED, BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE AND THE JOBS AND MINING ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS, GOOD BENEFITS AND THEY ARE REALLY DIVERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO IN THIS INDUSTRY.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN A CHANGE OVER THE YEARS SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS BUSINESS, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THAT INDUSTRY?
>> I THINK THE INDUSTRY IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP CONSTANTLY.
THEY ARE FINDING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, FINDING NEW WAYS FOR MORE SUSTAINABILITY.
SO IT'S A CONSTANT CHANGE AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION AND I THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
>> WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FROM THE IRON MINING ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.
EVERY WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.
THIS TIME OUR GUEST IS HEIDI HOLTON FROM KA X RADIO FROM GRAND RAPIDS.
>> SINCE MAY, WE HAVE BEEN FEATURING RISING SENIOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY LUKE ON KA X E. HE HAS BEEN ON A QUEST TO HIKE ALL OF MINNESOTA 66 STATE PARKS.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT HE ACCOMPLISHED HIS GOAL.
WE FOLLOWED HIM THROUGH LOTS OF TERRAIN FROM PRAIRIES TO RIVER VALLEYS TO FORESTS, LAKES AND TO LAKE SUPERIOR.
HE LET US KNOW ABOUT FLOWERS, LIKE HOCK WEED, WHICH TURNS OUT AS INCREDIBLY INVASIVE.
FORAGING FOR COWS.
HE SAYS FIRST USE OF THE LAKE FROM THE STATE PARK.
HE STAVED THE NORTH SHORE PARKS FOR LAST, KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD BE SOME OF HIS FAVORITES.
IN HIS RANKINGS OF MINNESOTA 66 STATE PARK'S, HIS TOPS WERE BEAVERCREEK VALLEY, SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE, WHITEWATER AND HIS FAVORITE OF ALL.
HE TOLD US HOW HE DECIDED ON HIS RANKINGS.
QUAKES YOU OVERLOOKED THE TOP THING, WHICH IS WHY IT ENDED UP BEING MY NUMBER ONE PART.
THAT PART PROBABLY HAS 30 OVERLOOKS.
YOU HIKE 15 MILES AND WE SAW HALF OF THEM.
IT'S JUST INTERESTING TRAILS.
IF THE TRAILS ARE BORING THROUGH GRASS AND WOODSY, JOHN MIGHT FIND THAT INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE LOTS OF DIFFERENT TREES EVERYWHERE, BUT I LIKE THE DIFFERENT TERRAIN.
IT'S VERY FLAT.
-- IF IT'S FLAT, I WON'T LIKE THAT.
ALSO, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AT EACH PARK.
IF THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE, I ENDED UP DROPPING IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT, SAME WITH MOSQUITOES.
I TRIED TO KEEP MOSQUITOES OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IF YOU VISIT THE PARK AT ANOTHER TIME OF YEAR IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
♪ >> WE ALSO RECENTLY TALKED TO SOME FOLKS IN THE BRAINERD AREA WITH THE NONPROFIT.
THEY HAVE A MISSION TO LIFT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THEY HAVE A THREE PRONG COMMUNITY APPROACH AND THEY CALL IT HOME, HEALTH AND HARMONY.
VICKI KINNEY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SPOKE WITH US ABOUT THE REASONS FOR HOMELESSNESS.
THINGS LIKE ONE HEALTH CRISIS OR CAR ISSUES, MENTAL-HEALTH, FOSTER KIDS AGING OUT OF THE PROGRAM.
SHE TOLD US ABOUT THEIR IDEA OF A TINY HOUSE COMMUNITY.
QUAKES WE WILL BE GOING INTO THE CITY VERY SOON FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SO WE COULD GET MORE HOMES ON THE PROPERTY THAT WE ARE WANTING TO DEVELOP.
SO THIS WILL BE A MULTIPLEX UNIT, IT'S QUITE -- IT'S QUITE CREATIVE.
VERY FEW SHARED WALLS SO EACH LOOKS LIKE A COTTAGE.
IN THE FRONT PORCHES WITH SIDEWALKS AROUND TO ENCOURAGE NEIGHBOR AND SOCIALIZING.
A WARM AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.
THE SMALLER UNITS ARE A LITTLE OVER 400 SQUARE FEET'S.
-- FEET.
WE HAVE FAMILY UNITS IT LARGER THAN THAT, THEY ARE SMALL, BUT THEY WILL MEET THE NEEDS.
WE HAVE A TV HEALTH CENTER THAT WE WILL PLAN TO BUILD THAT WILL PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH.
IT WILL BE A CLASSROOM MEETING ROOM, OFFICES FOR THE PROPERTY MANAGER.
FULL KITCHEN AND SLICE IT TOGETHER AND SOCIALIZE, AND EXERCISE ROOM, ART THERAPY ROOM.
>> FINALLY, OUR STAFF, JOHN, CONTINUES TO KEEP US UPDATED ON NATURE.
BERRIES THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE REALLY THE STAR OF THE SHOW.
RIGHT NOW IT'S BLUEBERRIES, JUNE BERRIES AND RASPBERRY SEASON.
>> KIND OF AN INTERESTING COMPARISON BETWEEN JUNE BARRY AND RASPBERRY.
THE JUNE BERRIES FLOWERS SYNCHRONOUSLY AND IT HAPPENS IN EARLY JUNE THIS YEAR.
BUT LATE MAY SOMETIMES.
AND THEY ALL FLOWER AT ONCE, SO THE WHOLE PLANT FLOWERS AND YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE FLOWERS OPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE RASPBERRY, ON THE OTHER HAND, FLOWERS ASYNCHRONOUSLY.
LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS OUT LOOKING AT RASPBERRIES, I FOUND RIPE RASPBERRIES AND I FOUND RASPBERRIES THAT WERE IN FLOWER.
>> YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR NEW SEASON WATCH NEWSLETTER AT KA X E.ORG AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT TO BE LOOKING FOR IN NATURE.
♪ >> WHEN YOU LIVE IN OR NEAR THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES, IT'S HARD TO RESIST A SWIM ON THESE HOT SUMMER DAYS.
BUT SOMETIMES THAT WATER MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SWIMMERS.
WE SPOKE WITH TRICIA ROBINSON FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ABOUT HOW HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS CAN PUT A STOP TO YOUR BEACH DAY.
>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TRACK WEATHER BORNE DISEASES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IN CASE THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING SICK, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON TOP OF THAT SO WE CAN STOP TRANSMISSION RIGHT AWAY SO THERE AREN'T ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING SICK.
ALSO, WE LIKE TO TRACK THE TRENDS, SEE WHERE THINGS ARE CHANGING, IF THERE ARE NEW THINGS EMERGING.
THERE ARE CHANGING CLIMATES, IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT IS IMPACTING OUR WATERS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
A LOT OF TIMES BACTERIA LEVELS FOLLOW IF WE HAVE ANY SORT OF HEAVY RAINS.
IT CAN BE HIGH LOADS IN SOME SORT OF CONTAMINATION EVENT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS OFTEN LEAD TO HIGHER BACTERIA LEVELS AND IN OUR LAKES, OR ANY SORT OF FRESH BODY OF WATER THAT WE HAVE.
SO WHAT WE ARE MONITORING FOR IS E. COLI, AND THAT IS JUST A GENERAL INDICATOR E. COLI.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE E. COLI -- THE ONE THAT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE ILL, NECESSARILY, IT'S JUST AN INDICATOR ORGANISM THAT MEANS THAT THE GERMS THAT MIGHT MAKE PEOPLE SICK COULD BE IN THE WATER, BUT THE GERMS THAT DO MAKE PEOPLE SICK MOST COMMONLY COULD RUN THE GAMUT, THAT COULD BE E. COLI.
LIKE A 157.
WE COULD HAVE OUTBREAKS OF THAT.
IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A VIRUS, LIKE NOROVIRUS.
YOU COULD HAVE OUTBREAKS LIKE THAT.
REALLY, ANY OF THE GERMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ON THEM THAT COULD MAKE THEM SIX WITH -- SICK WITH A DIARRHEAL ILLNESS.
IF YOU ARE SICK WHEN YOU GET IN THE WATER, YOU BRING ALL OF THOSE GERMS IN THE WATER WITH YOU, UNFORTUNATELY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN THE WATER, ALL OF THOSE GERMS -- EVERYBODY HAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF POOP ON THEM.
IT'S REALLY GROSS TO THINK ABOUT, BUT IT'S TRUE, AND IT WASHES OFF IN THE WATER WHEN YOU GO SWIMMING.
THAT'S RIGHT -- THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TELL PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER IF THEY ARE SICK.
SO BASICALLY, ANYTHING THAT CAUSES DIARRHEA AND ALL OF THOSE GERMS.
E. COLI, THEY CAN SPREAD THROUGHOUT FRESHWATER IF WE ARE GOING SWIMMING, BUT AVOIDING SWALLOWING WATER WHEN YOU ARE GOING SWIMMING IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
SOMETIMES, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS INTENTIONALLY SWALLOWING WATER WHILE THEY ARE SWIMMING, ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN.
THEY UNINTENTIONALLY INGEST WATER, BUT THAT'S HOW WE OFTEN GET SICK, BY TRICKING THE WATER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KEEPING WATER OUT OF OUR MOUTH, ESPECIALLY NOT PLAYING WITH WATER IN OUR MOUTH AND BECOMING A SPIGOT AND SPITTING IT OUT.
BUT ALSO, TO AVOID OTHER THINGS, MAKING SURE THAT, IF POSSIBLE, SHOWERING BEFORE WE GET IN THE WATER, BUT ALSO SHOWERING AFTER WE GO SWIMMING.
TRYING TO KEEP THE BEACH AREA SAFE.
SO AVOIDING NOT FEEDING THE BIRDS AT THE BEACH, KEEPING THEM AWAY FROM THE AREA, AND KEEPING YOUR PETS AWAY SO IF THERE ARE PETS AT THE AREA AT ALL, CLEANING UP OUR PET WASTE AND NOT ALLOWING THAT TO GET INTO OUR WATERWAYS.
>> -- THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RUNS THE BEACH MONITORING PROGRAM, SO IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR BEACH MONITORING RESULTS, THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT MN BEACHES.ORG.
SO, DEFINITELY GO CHECK THEM OUT.
CHECK THEM OUT BEFORE YOU GO VISIT.
AS FOR OTHER BEACHES WITHIN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WHETHER THOSE BEACHES ARE MONITORED OR NOT, THAT'S THE DISCRETION OF THE ENTITY THAT HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BEACH.
SO THE PARK DISTRICT OR THE COUNTY, OR THE CITY.
>> THE NORTH HOUSE FOLKS OF SCHOOL WILL CELEBRATE ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.
PRODUCERS MEGAN MCGARVEY AND ISAAC TOOK A RIDE UP THE NORTH SHORE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT THE SCHOOL HAS OUT ON THE COMMUNITY.
♪ >> I'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM SHOEMAKING TO WOOD CARVING TO BEEKEEPING, BIRDWATCHING.
>> IT HAS REALLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT GROWING THE COMMUNITY AND GROWING THE DIFFERENT SKILLS, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY OFFER HERE.
>> I AM HERE AS THE INSTRUCTING RESIDENCE.
ICE -- I TEACH ROSE MOWING, IT'S TRADITIONALLY A NORWEGIAN FOLK ART THAT ORIGINATED IN THE LATE TO MID 1700S.
INFLUENCED BY -- IT HAS A LOT OF SCROLLS AND FLORAL ELEMENTS.
IT WAS DONE INSIDE HOMES AND ON OBJECTS OF USE, SO THERE'S DIFFERENT STYLES THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT REGIONS, LIKE TELEMARK .
BUT IT'S CHARACTERIZED BY A FOLDED LEAF SHAPES, SO IT'S A BIT MORE NATURALISTIC.
>> THERE'S JUST SUCH AN OVERLAP OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT AND COMMUNITY AND THE LOCATION THAT IT'S AN AMAZING KIND OF SYNERGY OF CONNECTIONS THROUGH THAT.
WHEN PEOPLE COME UP AND DO IT IN COMMUNITY, THERE IS A BONDING THAT HAPPENS.
SO CRAFT AND COMMUNITY AND THE LOCATION IS MAGIC UP HERE.
IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
>> WE LIVE IN A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD AND EVERYBODY IS SO PLUGGED IN WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMPUTERS AND BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TACTILE, WORK WITH YOUR HANDS IS CONNECTING WITH THEM USING A PART OF YOUR BRAIN THAT I DON'T THINK OTHERWISE GETS UTILIZED.
THE OTHER PIECES APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD.
A LOT OF MATERIALS YOU USE AT A CRAFT SCHOOL ARE COMING FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND YOU.
TODAY WE ARE USING BLACK ASH AND IT'S COMING FROM THE INSTRUCTORS WOODS THAT HE HARVESTED.
YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT YOU'RE USING ON THE APPLICATION AND THE BEAUTY OF THE MATERIALS.
>> ALL THE STUDENTS MAKE A BOWL OUT OF HICKORY, SO THIS IS ONE OF MY STUDENTS BOWLS SO WE START OFF WITH A CUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THREE DAYS, BUT THEY LEARN HOW TO TILLER IT, WHICH IS THE PROCESS AND THAT'S REALLY THE HEART OF BOWL BUILDING.
SO MUCH OF THE WORK IN CRAFTING THAT IS WITH A SCRAPER AND IT SERVES AS A DRY KNIFE AS WELL.
SO THEY USE THIS TO REMOVE SMALL LAYERS OF WOOD TO GET THEM TO BEND EASILY.
THEY WILL PUT IT UP LIKE HE'S DOING OVER THERE AND KIND OF LOOK FOR IT.
WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT I CALL TEACHING.
THERE IS REALLY AN ART TO IT.
THERE'S NO POWER TOOL YOU CAN DO IT WITH BECAUSE EVERY PIECE OF WHAT IS DIFFERENT.
WE ARE TOGETHER FOR THREE LONG FULL DAYS AND THERE ARE TRIALS AND SOMETIMES SOMETHING DOESN'T TURN OUT RIGHT SO YOU HAVE TO RECOVER FROM THAT AND PERSEVERE.
SO THERE'S THIS ELEMENT OF PERSEVERANCE IN DOING SOMETHING THAT'S HARD TOGETHER, AND THEN COMING OUT IN THE END SUCCESSFUL.
>> NORTH HOUSE IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF CONNECTING WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WITH THE INSTRUCTORS, WITH STUDENTS, AND REALLY BUILDING AND GROWING THEIR COMMUNITY SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME HERE, THEY FEEL INCLUDED.
THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME AND LEARN AND EXPLORE NEW SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
>> YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT, IT'S HARD TO PUT IN WORDS.
IT'S HARD TO PUT IN WORDS.
JUST TO WALK AROUND AND VISIT THE CLASSES.
>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST UPDATES BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION, AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APPS FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF ALMANAC NORTH AND YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WE ARE ALREADY AT THE END OF JULY.
>> WE HAVE HAD SOME REMARKABLE, WARM SUMMER JULY WEATHER THIS YEAR.
WE DON'T GET THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
>> IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SOME REMINDERS, LIKE IN THE SHOW TONIGHT WHEN IT IS WARM, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THINGS LIKE BACTERIA IN THE LAKE AND JUST BE CAUTIOUS AND ENJOY THE OUTDOOR AREAS.
>> IT'S ALSO GREAT FOR TOURISM.
>> WE WANT THE TOURISTS TO STAY HEALTHY.
>> WE CERTAINLY DO.
>> THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND CREW IN THE STUDIO.
♪ H

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